Decisions, Decisions (Scenario)
Sondra needed help. Her insurance company’s rapid growth was necessitating making
some IT changes, but what changes? Should they modify the servers that they currently
used or purchase an entirely new system? Sondra was confused and needed help in
making the correct decision.
Sondra has determined that the speed of the system she settles on is twice as important
as the capacity of the system. Which stage of the decision-making process is she
carrying out?
A) allocation of weights to criteria
B) selecting an alternative
C) implementing the alternative
D) identifying the problem
Managers find that ________ work(s) best for motivating employees.
A) across-the-board pay raises
B) sharing in company profits
C) promotions in job status without increased pay
D) perks such as bigger offices and parking spaces
As represented in a hierarchical organization diagram, authority is based on ________.
A) vertical position only
B) horizontal position only
C) distance from the center only
D) horizontal and vertical position
Standing plans typically can be used ________.
A) only once
B) only in conjunction with specific, long-term plans
C) twice at most
D) repeatedly
Which of the following is NOT an example of a decisional role according to
Mintzberg?
A) spokesperson
B) entrepreneur
C) disturbance handler
D) resource allocator
Application of Skills (Scenario)
Harris, a budding stand-up comedian, spent months hanging out at Laugh Town, a local
club, meeting other stand-ups, doing a lot of listening and finding out how they learned
their trade. It got to the point where several of the star acts were trying out their new
material on Harris. If Harris laughed, the material must be good, they said. Finally
Harris got to the point where he wanted to try out his own act. Bobby G, a successful
comic, agreed to listen to Harris. Bobby laughed a few times, but as he performed his
material Harris couldn’t help but wonder about the odd, pained expression on Bobby’s
face. When it was over, Bobby told him, “Very funny, Harris. Keep working on it.” It
was at that point that Harris decided he would become an agent for other comedians.
Somehow, he knew that that was what he was truly suited for.
The fact that Harris was able to switch from being an unsuccessful comedian to being a
successful agent primarily shows that Harris has which competency?
A) occupational acumen
B) emotional control
C) task orientation
D) open-mindedness
This is the dimension of trust that includes how honest a leader is.
A) integrity
B) openness
C) loyalty
D) competence
Which of the following best explains why increased regulations cannot be the complete
solution to reforming the economy?
A) The regulators are all corrupt.
B) It is extremely difficult to write regulations.
C) There are too many transactions to keep track of.
D) There are too many regulations to keep track of.
Which of the following provides the best illustration of technology transforming how
managers manage in the workplace?
A) Managers oversee very large design teams.
B) Managers must supervise design teams more closely.
C) Managers oversee very large clerical and secretarial staffs.
D) Managers oversee very small clerical and secretarial staffs.
A law firm manager finds that the firm loses too many of its civil cases while it wins an
inordinately high number of its criminal cases. Which basic corrective action can the
manager take?
A) pay criminal lawyers more
B) pay civil lawyers less
C) analyze civil and criminal cases
D) fire civil lawyers
Described as the new frontier, this new challenge for managers has the potential to both
boast and drain employee productivity.
A) organizational politics
B) social media
C) environmental activism
D) intrapreneurship
Which of the following has been identified as a significant risk to business leaders in
the next decade?
A) stagnation in technology
B) income disparity
C) declining birth rates
D) political instability